Are we in Laodicea striving to be Holy as God is Holy?

The Laodicean Church ERA is said to have become somewhat self-satisfied with themselves and their “spiritual knowledge. We are commanded to be Holy as God is Holy. The ERA is described as a nation of Kings and Priests in training. How does a lukewarm, know it all attitude fit in with that command I wonder?

The only purpose of our creation and existence on earth is to become a god-being like the Sovereign God who is now God the Father and like the Creator God who has become the Christ.

Yes, that’s right, humans were created to be transformed into god-beings. But how do we know this is true?

We know this is true because the biblical record tells us that those chosen to be the first humans to make the transition from a human to a god-being are in the process of being taught how to think and behave like God the Father and Christ, to become like them. So, how does one accomplish this godly thinking and behavior?

Let us begin our search into how to accomplish godly thinking and behavior by first reviewing several scriptures that give us an overview of what we are asked to do as one of the Father’s earthly children.

The Holy Nation

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, and the Creator called Moses to come up the mountain to him.

Ex 19:3-6 KJV Para. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, This shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.

These are the words which you shall shalt speak to the children of Israel. Here, the English word, holy, is translated from the Hebrew word qadowsh (kaw-doshe’), which can mean sacred, holy, holy one or saint.

The Israelites were to be a holy nation of priests who were supposed to be an example of God’s way of life to other nations, which when practiced would bring about a happy and prosperous life.

The Israelites were prophetic of those whom God the Father would call, during the gospel age of salvation, to become his earthly children, his royal priesthood, and his holy nation on earth to be an example of his way of life for all people, which when practiced would bring about happiness, prosperity, and eternal life in his heavenly kingdom.

In Leviticus chapter 11, God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the whole nation of Israel and tell them which animals they could and could not eat. In the middle of this instruction, God said the following about why they had to follow these dietary rules:

Lev.11:43-45 KJV Para. You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am the Lord your God: you shall be clean, and you shall be holy ; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the Lord that brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: therefore you shall be holy, for I am holy .

In Leviticus chapter 19, Moses is again told to speak to the nation of Israel and give them a list of instructions that they must follow:

Lev.19:1-2 KJV And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.

Notice that the Israelites must be a holy people because their God is holy:

For the Israelites to be holy (That is, to be a part of the sacred realm of existence), the Creator gave them laws that detailed certain attitudes, characteristics, and behaviors that they must practice.

These laws clearly explained what a holy attitude and a holy behavior is and is not and how to maintain a condition of holiness.

So what does this have to do with a person who professes to believe what is recorded in the Bible and claims to follow Christ? The answer is, It has everything to do with those who are serious about becoming an immortal spirit-being in the Kingdom of God at the return of Christ.

The apostle Peter wrote, to those who were called to salvation during his lifetime, the following about being holy:

1.Pet.1:13-16 KJV Para. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, being sober, perfectly hope in the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not in ignorance fashioning yourselves after your former lusts, 15 even as the One who called you is holy, so you become holy in all manner of behavior. 16 Because it has been written, Be holy; because I am holy .

All manner of behavior means every aspect of one’s life both mentally and physically. The apostle Peter clearly states that those who profess to believe in the message Christ brought from his heavenly Father, must also be holy just as the Sovereign God is holy and as the Israelites were required to be holy.

The word “holy” sounds very spiritual and for most people it is an undefinable concept. However, according to the biblical record, being holy is not an undefinable concept.

The reality and the practice of being holy can be understood if one is willing to search the scriptures. Otherwise, the instruction “to be holy as God is holy” would not have been given.

Do you know the answers to these four questions?

What defines what is holy and what is not holy?

What makes God, a thing, or person holy?

How does a person become holy?

How do you know if you are holy as God is holy?

If you do not know the answers to these questions, get a free copy of my article The Holy Ones and God’s Law, which explains exactly what it means to be holy as God is holy. Or better yet get a free copy of my book, Biblical Law Past, Present, and Future in which you will find more information about what it means to be holy as God is holy.

1.Pet.2:1-10 KJV Para. 1Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speech, 2 As newborn infants, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby: 3 If it is so that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.4 To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are built up as a house, a spiritual house, as a priesthood, a holy priesthood , to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

In verse 5, Peter makes it clear that the Father’s elect are a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood .But, what does it mean to be a spiritual house?

Here, English word spiritual is translated from the Greek word pneumatikos (pnyoo-mat-ik-os’), which means this context, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or divinely supernatural.

The English word house is translated from the Greek word oikos (oy’-kos), which in the context of verse 5 means a literal dwelling.

The apostle Paul also wrote the following about the elect being a spiritual house (i.e., a temple where God the Father’s holy spirit resides).

1.Cor.3:16-17 KJV Para. 16 Don’t you know that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any defile the temple of God, the same shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. See also 1.Cor.6:19.

The English word holy in verse 5, is translated from the Greek word hagios (hag’-ee-os), which means sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated).

And the English word priesthood is translated from the Greek word hierateuma (hee-er-at’-yoo- mah), which means a priestly fraternity.

The elect are both a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood, which means they are different from other humans on earth, which do not have these intrinsic qualities as a part of their life force.

Continuing in 1.Peter chapter 2, verse 9:

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, (i.e., sacred nation) a purchased people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Being one the Sovereign God’s chosen people means to be holy and maintain one’s holiness just as the ancient Israelites were to be holy and maintain their holiness as a state of existence.

Because the elect are their heavenly Father’s priests, temples, and nation on earth, It is easily shown that many of the laws, precepts, and principles given to ancient Israel, which pertained to maintaining a pure undefiled state of existence also apply to the elect both physically and spiritually during this gospel age of salvation.

What are the consequences for defiling that which is to be maintained in a holy state of existence?

The consequences for not maintaining a holy state of existence under the God’s covenant with ancient Israel was excommunication, loss of benefits, and physical death, if a holy state was not reestablished. During this gospel age, the consequence of not maintaining a holy state of existence under one’s agreement with their heavenly Father is the second death from which there is no return.

Being Holy

To the ancient Israelites the Creator God said:

Lev.20:26 KJV

26 You shall be holy (i.e., sacred) to me: for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from other people, that you should be mine.

The Israelites became holy by following the Creator God’s instructions to perform ritual and animal sacrifice and maintained their holy state through obedience to God’s laws, precepts, and principles which he gave to them to practice.

The apostle Paul wrote the following to the elect at Ephesus about the practice of holiness:

Eph.4:21-24 KJV Para.

21 If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That you put off concerning the former behavior of the old person, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that you put on the new person, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

To the Father’s elect the apostle Peter wrote:

1.Pet.1:15-16 KJV 15 Even as the One who called you is holy, so you become holy in all manner of behavior. 16 Because it has been written, Be holy; because I am holy.

God the Father personally offers a person an opportunity to form an agreement with the him. If a person correctly follows his instructions to establish an agreement with him, he adopts them as 5 one of his earthly children and places his holy spirit in them, at which time they become holy.

From this time forward the person made holy must maintain their holy state of existence through the practice of the Father’s laws, precepts, and principles which define godly thinking and behavior.

Important Things

The apostle Paul wrote the following to the elect at Rome about where a person’s priorities should be, if they are truly one of the Fathers children and are serious about wanting to become an immortal spirit-being:

Rom.8:5-8 NKJV Para. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, the things of the spirit. 6 For to be fleshly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the fleshly mind is hostile against God; for it is not subject to God’s law, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

One who is holy should realize that this physical life is only a temporary situation and should not be one’s first priority.

In verse 13-14 Paul makes clear the result of not maintaining one’s holy state:

13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the spirit do kill the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Because we who have Father’s spirit and are his sons, our number one priority above all other things should be to maintain our holy status so that we can fulfil the purpose for which our heavenly Father called us during this gospel age of salvation.

Nothing else in this life is more important than the goal of entering the Father’s heavenly realm as an immortal god-being just like our Father and our Savior.

After giving the parable about a rich man who thought he had enough wealth to retire and live a life of ease, Luke records Christ speaking to his disciples about their importance to God the Father and what should be important to them:

Lk.12:22-35 KJV Para. 22 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on. 23 The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Some whom God has called to salvation and given his spirit forget the goal that he has set before them, which is far more important than physical blessings and material wealth.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse or barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the birds?

How much better are we than birds? Much better. If we truly understand why our heavenly Father called us during this age we will understand how important we are to him and his plan for the rest of his human creation.

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take you thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they do not toil, they do not spin; and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 And you do not seek what to eat, or what to drink, neither be anxious. 30 For all these do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But rather you seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you. What the Father offers to those he personally calls to salvation during this gospel age is almost beyond our comprehension. All one has to do is list what he offers to understand that all this world has to offer is worthless in comparison. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which do not ware out, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Each of us that the Father has made holy should strive to be holy in thought and deed; therefore, it is extremely important to understand exactly what it means to be holy and how to maintain our holy status.

BE HOLY AS GOD IS HOLY

Before the Beginning

Humans were created to resemble God in a physical form here on earth and eventually as a spirit-being just like him and Christ in his heavenly realm.

Eternal and immortal life represent the highest form of existence. This is the kind of life that God the Father offers to those he calls to participate in the first resurrection.

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn.10:10 KJV).

No form of existence can be more abundant and filled with joy than eternal and immortal life on the divine plane of existence in the Family and Kingdom of God. See 1.Cor.2:9.

What gift could be greater than to have immortal life, which springs forth from itself and does not depend on any other source to sustain it because it is self sustaining?

The choices for anyone called to salvation during this gospel age, are the same as those called before and during the covenant with ancient Israel.

Anyone who is called to salvation today and chooses to live a righteous life will be rewarded with eternal and immortal life. However, those who refuse to keep their agreement with God will 7 be punished with the second death from which there is no return.

The God who became Jesus Christ had these choices summarized and recorded in Deuteronomy chapter 30, verses 15-19 so that there would be no doubt as to what he was offering for those who would live a righteous lifestyle:

It is God the Father and Jesus Christ’s earnest desire that his chosen people choose life.

God is Holy

The biblical record tells us that God is holy and that we are also to be holy as he is holy, so what are some of the characteristics that make a god-being holy that we are to practice and maintain?

There are many godly characteristics noted in the biblical record, but we do not have time today to list them all, so lets review two of the most important, without which all others would be meaningless and which a holy person must practice and maintain.

God is love

The apostle John explains that one of our heavenly Father’s characteristics is that he is a loving individual.

1 Jn. 4:7-21 KJV

7 Beloved, let us love ; one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He that does not love, does not know God; for God is love.

When John writes that we should love the elect, he uses a word that has to do with love in a social or moral sense.

If we truly have this type of love for another person, we will be concerned for their happiness and well-being. This type of love is not just an emotional feeling, it is also to be manifested in our actions toward other people.

When John writes, ‘for love is of God and that God is love’, he uses the Greek word agape (ag- ah’-pay),which means affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast

Agape love is a godly characteristic which goes beyond social affection or moral concern for another person. Godly love is a deep and abiding affection for another person which looks past the other person’s character flaws and continually seeks to benefit the person who is loved.

In his second letter to the Timothy, the apostle Paul documents the three most important gifts of the holy spirit the Sovereign Father bestows on each and every one of his newly adopted children.

2 Tim.1:6-7 KJV Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear ; but of power , and of love , and of a sound mind .